Animal trap



E. J. WILLIS ANIMAL TRAP Dec. 19,1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1938 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS 1939- E. J. WILLIS 2,183,926

ANIMAL TRAP v Filed Aug. 5, 1938 I5 Sheets Sheet 2 zz z mzh zzz zzs,

wn'uzss ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1939.

E. J. WILLIS ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet s ATTO R N EYS 55 of sheet metal.

Patented Dec. 19, 1939 ANIM'AL TRAP I Elijah J. Willis, Morehead City, N; 6., assignor of one-half to Jasper B.

Frizaelle, Snow Hill,

Application August 5, 1938, Serial No. 223,366 T I 4 Claims.

My invention relates to the destruction of rodents, particularly rats, and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved animal trap.

An object of my invention is to provide an animal trap including a gang of spears which may be present and tripped by the animal, and in which novel means are incorporated for automatically resetting the gang of spears after tripping thereoiand destruction of the animal.

A further object is to provide an animal trap including means for spearing the animal in which I provide a novel power operated spear resetting mechanism renderedoperable after the trap has been tripped by the animal.

Another object is to provide an animal trap including a spear mechanism for destro-ying'the animal including means for tripping the spear mechanism as the animal enters the trap together with a motor for resetting the spear mechanism after tripping thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of my animal trap with the housing broken away for the sake oof clearness.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view with the housing illustrated in section.

Figure 3 is a top plan view with of the housing removed.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the motor driven resetting mechanism.

the upper part Figure 5 is a sectional detail view of the bridgefor closing the circuit through the motor after the spear mechanism has been tripped. 40 Figure 6 is a detail view of the bait mount.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line I'I of Figure 6. I,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one detail of the invention. e

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a housing It including end walls II and side walls I2. The side walls include roof plates I3 hingedly connected together at I4. Walls I2 may be pivoted about the 50 axis of the hinge I4 to lend access to the mechanism enclosed within the housing I0. Housing It includes a floor I5 which is connected with the end walls the end Walls II for support. I prefer to shape II on the floor I5 from one piece To thefioor I5 I connect a pair of legs I6 by bolts ll.- -A subfioor I8 is connected with they fioor I5 through the medium of legs I9. Subfloor It and the legs I6 support the housing III, with the, floor I5 held inspaced relation with the floor or ground line 26. Openlmesh walls 2| in the nature of screen, material are fastened to the legs It in such manner as to provide two spaced walls defining entrances 22 for the animal. Operating between the two Walls 2! of spears 23 which reciprocate in a vertical path. According to Figure 1, each gang of spears 23 comprises three prongs 24 having their lower ends sharpened as at 25 and their upper ends fixedly connected with a head 26. In Figure 2, 15 the heads 26 are interconnected by a plate 21 and the prongs 24 operate through openings 28 in the floor I5. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the gangs of spears 23 in their tripped positions.

Uponthe floor I5 I secure an electric motor 20 29 through the medium of brackets 30. A bracket 3i is mounted on top the motor 29 and includes flanges 32 which may be welded to the motor. To one of the flanges 32 I weld a bracket 33. to the outer end of which I pivotally connect 25 a latch bar 34. The bar 34 includes a ledge 35 arranged to have latching relation with the plate 27 when it is lifted to the elevated position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 4. In this position of the plate 21 the heads 26 are elevatedgo corresponding distances at which time the sharpened ends 25 of the prongs 24 are positioned slightly underneath the bottom face of the floor I5. One end of a tension spring 35 is connected with the plate 21 and the opposite end of the 35 spring is connected in any suitable manner with the subfioor I8. Spring 36 is enclosed within a tube 3-? attached to the floor I5 and the subfloor I8. Plate 21 is elevated against the tension of the spring 35, and shifting of the bar 3.4 sufficiently forward to bringthe ledge 35 into hold-, ing relation with the plate 2? permits the spring 36 to drive the gang of spears 23 through the animal positioned between the screened walls 2i. Upon the floor I5 I mount a post 39, to which I pivotallyconnect at 40 a bell crank 4L One end of the bell crank includes a pin'42 extending througha slot 43 in the latch bar 34. The opposite end of the bell crank 4| is pivotally connected at 44 witha link 45extending through an opening in the floor I5.. Referring to Figure 1, thelink 45 is pivotally connected at 46 with a lever 41 carrying a trip plate 48 located between the walls M and inside the entrances 22. The opposite end of the lever 41 is pivotally conare two gangs .10

- tion.

to the dotted line nected at 49 with a support 58 anchored to a housing 5| connected with the subfloor I8 and the floor I5. I weld a strap 52 to the lever 41 for anchoring one end of a tension spring 53, the other end of which is secured to the housing 5| as at 54. Spring 53 exerts a pull on the lever 41 for moving the trip plate 48 to its tripping position and at the same time urging the latch bar 34 in the direction of the plate 21. Latch bar 34 is urged against one end of the plate 21, as illustrated in Figure l, with such engagement determining the trip-ping position of the trip plate 48 as well as yieldingly holding the ledge 35 in latched relation with the plate 21 in its elevated position.

With the plate 21 positioned in the dotted line illustration of Figure 4, weight of the animal stepping upon the trip plate 48 pulls the link 45 downwardly which in turn pivots the bell crank 4| sufficiently forward to swing the ledge 35 from underneath the plate 21, thus releasing the plate and rendering the spring 36 operative for plunging the gang of spears through the animal. Plate 21 includes a boss 56 having a bore 51 loosely receiving a guide shaft 58 having its lower ends provided with a nut 59 engaging the lower face of the wall I5. Between the wall I5 and the plate 21 I mount a cushioning spring 68, which may embrace the shaft 58. The-upper end of the guide shaft 58 is provided with an eye 6| for rotatably supporting a shaft 62 to which I key a large diameter sprocket wheel 63. A resetting crank 64 is keyed to the shaft 62 and includes a right-angular pin 65 arranged to have connected relation with a hook 66 carried by a bar 61 pivotally connected at 68 with the boss 56 on the plate 21. Normally the bar 61 extends into vertical position from the plate 21. The bar includes an arm 69 arranged to engage the plate 21 when pivoted to a vertical position through the medium of the spring 19. The tension spring 18 has one end connected with the bar 61 and its opposite end connected with the plate 21 for urging the bar to its vertical posi- Normally the resetting crank 64 lies in the dotted line position of Figure 4. Rotation of the resetting arm 64 in the direction of the arrow 1| through the medium of the sprocket 63 causes the pin 65 to engage the hook 66 and elevates the plate 21 for bringing it into the dotted line illustration of Figure 4. When brought to this position, the ledge 35 moves under the plate 21. At the moment the ledge 35 passes underneath the plate 21 the rod 61 has been elevated and shifted illustration of Figure 4. Further rotation of the sprocket 63 moves the pin 65 out of holding relation with the hook 66, but the ledge 35 supports the plate 21 in the elevated position.

Motor 29 includes a pinion 13 arranged in mesh with a large diameter gear 14 keyed to a shaft 15 rotatably journaled in the bracket 3|. Shaft 15 is keyed to a small sprocket 16 for connection with the sprocket chain 11 connected with the large sprocket 63. Pinion 13, of the gear 14, the sprocket 16, chain 11, and the sprocket 63 constitute a transmission unit for operatively connecting the motor 29 with the arm 64, which elevates the gangs of spears 23.

A bar 18 has one end connected with the eye 6| and its opposite end connected with the bracket 3| as at 19. Since the bracket 3| is fixedly connected with the motor 29 the bar 18 will lend rigidity to the upper end of the guide shaft 58.

The gangs of spears 23 may be set manually by lifting the plate 21 upwardly through the medium of the rod 61. When set, the circuit through the motor 29 is opened, but tripping of the trap closes the circuit through the motor for resetting the spears, after which the circuit of the motor is broken until such time as the trap may again be tripped. The eye 6| of the guide rod 58 constitutes a bearing for one end of the shaft 62 While the opposite end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 88 carried by an upright post 8| bolted at 82 to the floor I5. Post 8| carries a right-angular bar 83 of insulating material, which bar serves as a mount for the switch assembly 84 which controls the motor 29. One of the walls II carries an outlet plug 85 to which are electrically connected the wires 86 and 81. Plug 85 may be connected with an outside source of current in the conventional manner. Wire 86 leads to the motor 29, while the wire 81 is electrically connected with a terminal 88 passing through the bar 83 and anchored thereto. Terminal 88 carries spaced ears 89 located to have electrical connection with the blade 98 pivoted at 9| on the bifurcated end 92 of a terminal 93 to which one end of a wire 94 is connected. The opposite end of the wire leads to the motor 29. It will thus be seen that the position of the blade 98 controls the operation of the motor 29. Blade 98 is fixedly connected with a right-angular arm 95 to the outer end of which I connect one end of a tension spring 96, the other end of the tension spring being connected with the bar 83. With the blade 98 positioned according to Figure 5, the spring 96 exerts a pull upon the arm 95 in the direction of the arrow 91, but the blade 98 is restrained from further pivotal movement beyond the position illustrated because of its engagement with the arm 83. When the blade 98 is pressed between the ears 89 the spring 96 will exert a pull on the arm 95 in the direction of the arrow 98, thus holding the blade in a circuit closing position until it is again shifted to its full length position of Figure 5.

Figure 1 illustrates a shaft 99 slidably supported by a tube I88 formed on the end of the bracket I82 bolted to the post 8|. The lower end of the shaft 99 includes a right-angular reach I83 upon which I mount a rubber sleeve I84 located underneath the plate 21. The upper end of the shaft 99 is bowed as at I85 and is pivotally connected at I86 with a kicker arm I81 having a right-angular reach upon which I mount a rubber sleeve I88 for driving the blade 98 into circuit closing relation with the ears 89.

A tension spring I89 is connected at one end with the bar 99 and at its opposite end with the kicker arm I81. One end of a tension spring I89 is connected with the bar 99 and its opposite end is connected with a pin II8 carried by the post 8|. Upon the shaft 62 I key a sleeve |I2 which carries a pin II3 arranged to engage the rubber sleeve II4 mounted on the rightangular reach II5 carried by the blade 98. Sleeve H4 is located to be engaged by the pin 3 for pivoting the blade 98 out of electrical relation with the ears 89 immediately after the plate 21 has been lifted into latched relation with the ledge 35.

Two of the legs I9 carry a plate I" which is provided with an opening |I8 constituting a door for the bait II9. Bait H9 is mounted on a pale I28 fixedly related to a plate I2I. Two ears I22 are formed from material of the plate I I1 for supporting the plate I2I in the position of Figure 6.

The plate I 2| may be provided with a loop I 23 through which a finger maybe inserted for bait removingand placing purposes. The bait is located midway between the two gangs of spears 23, so that the animal must step upon the trip plate 48 before it can reach the bait.

From the foregoing description of thevarious parts of the device the operation thereof will be readily understood. When first set up, the spears are manually elevated for bringing the plate 21 into latched relation with the ledge 35. With the bait I I9 in position, the trap is ready for use. As the animal steps upon the trip plate 48 the bellcrank 4| is pivoted for swinging the latch bar 34 suificiently forward to bring the ledge 35 clear of the plate 27. Immediately upon such clearance the spring 36 drives the gangs of spears 23 downwardly. At least one gang of the spears will be driven through the animal. As the plate 21 is driven downwardly, it strikes the sleeve I04 on the rod 99. Downward movement of the rod 99 causes the sleeve I08 to strike the blade 99 for driving the same between the ears 89, thus closing the circuit to the motor 29. Arm I9! is hinged to the bar 99 so as to dampen the impact. As the blade is driven home the spring 95 is shifted to one side of the pivotal axis 9I of the blade 99 so that the blade will be held in contacting relation with the ears 89.

As the motor 29 is energized, it is set in operation for elevating the gangs of blades and establishing latched relation between the plate 2'! and the ledge 35. As the gear 74 is rotated the pin 65 on the arm 84 engages the hook 66 and elevates the gangs of blades. When the rod 61 has reached a vertical position the arm 69 contacts the plate 21 to prevent further movement of the arm. At the same time the pin II3 engages the sleeve II4 for moving the blade 90 to the position of Figure 5 at which time the circuit through the motor is broken. The circuit is broken at such time as to permit the pin 65 to move in the clear of the hook 66 thus permitting the spears to drop as soon as the trip plate 48 is touched by another animal.

The spears 23, while being driven through the animal, are withdrawn therefrom as the spears are elevated, and the reflex action of the animal will cause it to move to a position entirely in the clear of either entrance 22. It will thus be seen that I have provided a trap which is effective in dismounting the animal and in which the trap is entirely automatic and will continue operating so long as is desired.

Elevation of the plate 21 for resetting purposes removes pressure from the sleeve I04, thus rendering the spring I09 efiective for elevating the rod 99. Such elevation of the rod decreases the pressure relation between the arm I91 and the blade 90. After the plate 21 has been fully elevated, the pin I I3 engages the sleeve I I4 for pivoting the blade 90 to the position of Figure 5. Under such conditions the tension of the spring 96 eifectively holds the blade in the position illus-' trated, even though the pin I I3 has moved slightly beyond the sleeve H4. When fully elevated, the arm III! has very little, if any, pressure relation with the blade 90, so that the tension of the spring 96 will eifectively hold the blade 90 in its open position, until such time as the trap may be tripped.

One of the roof plates I3 is provided with a tube I25 for accommodating a wire I26 connected with one end of the blade 99. The outer end of the wire is provided with a grip I21 of insulating material. Grip I2! is accessible from a position exteriorly of the roof of the housing, to permit manual manipulation of the switch. A bail may 1. An animal trap comprising a baited entrance, animal spearing means including a driving means for said spearing means, animal actuated trip means for holding the spearing means in driving position, an electric motor, an operating connection between the electric motor and the spearing means for returning the latter to its driving position after being tripped by an animal, and a normally open switch for the electric motor and having an operating connection with said spearing means for closing the switch after tripping said spearing means and for opening the switch after return of the spearing means to said driving position.

2. An animal trap comprising a baited entrance, a supporting member having a plurality of spears connected therewith, resilient means operatively connected with said supporting member for driving the spears, animal actuated trip means cooperable with'said supporting member for holding the spears in driving position, an electric motor, an operating connection between the electric motor and said supporting member for returning the spears to said driving position after being tripped by an animal, a normally open switch for the electric motor and having an operating connection with said supporting member for closing the switch after tripping saidspears, and means actuated by the motor for opening the switch after return of the spears to said driving position.

3. An animal trap comprising a baited entrance, a supporting member having spear elements connected therewith, a spring operatively' the spear elements to said driving position after being tripped by an animal, a normally open switch for the motor and-having an operating connection with said supporting member for closing the switch after tripping said supporting member and the spear elements, and means actuated by the motor for opening the switch after return of the supporting member and the spear elements to said driving position.

4. An animal trap comprising a housing including a baited entrance, said housing including a floor and said baited entrance being positioned underneath said floor, said floor being provided with openings,spears including aplate member for supporting the spears located inside said housing with the spears adapted to be projected through said openings, a trip plate located in said baited entrance, a trip mechanism connecting said trip plate with said first plate for holding the latter and said spears in driving position, a, spring operatively connected with'said first plate for driving the spears into said baited entrance, an electric motor mounted on said floor inside the housing, an operating connection between the electric motor and said first plate for returning the latter and said spears to said driving position after being tripped by an animal, and a normally open switch for the electric motor and having an operating connection with said first plate for closing the switch after tripping said first plate, and rotative means operatively connected with said motor and operatively connected with said switch for opening the switch after return of said first plate and said spears to said driving position.

ELIJAI-I J. WILLIS. 

